Page 48 of Chasing Football Dreams

"And let's not forget about the media feedback this case received. You are after Shane Martin. People are going to flood and want an answer. How do we tell a media station that the place that is supposed to keep children from the streets can be responsible for my kidnapping?"

"Zoey, breathe," Shane got to his feet and rested his hands on my shoulders. "I know this is hard for you, it's been hard on me too. Including your mother,"

"I don't have all the answers you seek. I don't want to force you into the limelight and have media reporters follow you around because of me,"

"I will never put you in that position. As a father and a coach, it's my duty to protect you,"

A tear escaped from my eye. "How can you be this calm?" I hiccupped, the vulnerability taking me like a tidal wave.

"I have cried and prayed for this moment. Showing up at practice with a straight face has been a big ordeal. Just watching your talent from the sideline was enough to stir emotions,"

"You hid it pretty well," I noted.

He smiled. "It was a heaven's gift to see my daughter live out her dream. A miracle to see her alive and well. A father can't ask for more,"

"Is that why you gave BJ all the compliments and shut me out when we first met?" I asked, remembering the day that almost had me get rid of my dreams.

"When they said your name and I looked at you, I saw my daughter. All grown up and the beautiful reflection of your mother when I met her. I couldn't look at you because I feared that I could be wrong but the more I got to know you, the more I put the pieces together until the evidence was there,"

"What do we do now?" I asked with tears in my eyes.

He curled a piece that had come loose from my bun behind my ear. "First, you are going to win the championship. And then we sit down and discuss paying your tuition fees,"

"That's really not necessary,"

He shook his head. "It is. I am your father, and you are my responsibility. You have proven to be a very independent person by working double shifts at the diner since you were fourteen but it's now my turn as a father to help you out,"

"You have always been my princess the moment mom brought you into this world and I promised to take care of you. I just got you back, Zoey after losing seventeen years of watching you grow up," He inhaled a breath and wiped away a tear from his eye.

"Let me catch up on the years I lost and spend this time with you because life is short kiddo,"

I watched him through teary eyes as he struggled to stay composed. My bond with my mother wasn't as strong as it was with him. I saw firsthand how badly he took it after learning of me and how I remember him in my dreams.

"There must have been a reason why I always looked up to you from the first moment I saw you on TV," I remember every recorded tape of him. How I would sit late at night rewatching the games to learn from him.

"You have always been one tough girl," He noted with a smile.

"Do you think you can help me work on my skills for this weekend's game?"

He frowned. "There is nothing wrong with your skills,"

I quirked my shoulders. "In my dreams, I always see you showing me the tricks of becoming a great quarterback and I just thought since you are real," I interlaced my fingers feeling awkward.

"I would love that,"

I raised my gaze. "Really?"

He nodded. "Ever since losing you, I couldn't stop going to the field wishing that I could get one more time to see you,"

Chapter Twenty-Four

Coach Shane helped me practice on my game plan for hours what only felt like a few seconds. Nightfall was rolling in while we were still on the field working on plays.

Never have I imagined that I would be able to relive my childhood memories with my real dad.

I was half-field down towards the in-zone with Coach Shane chasing me when his best friend Benjamin Foster arrived. I felt an incredible ick when I was around him.

"Isn't it a bit late for practice?" Benjamin asked, shaking Coach Shane's hand.

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